Mrs Clough, from Barrowford near Nelson, Lancashire, said it was "amazing" to get the MBE and that it gave credibility to the campaign but added that she was "hurt" that her husband, John, had not been recognised.

She said: "My first impression was 'Wow'. My second impression was shock that my husband hadn't got one. I feel quite gutted that he hasn't got one because we are a partnership and we have gone through all this together. We have fought every step of the way as Jane's parents.

"I felt quite hurt that I had been awarded one and he hadn't. It's not quite right. It should have been both of us."

Jane Clough, 26, was a nurse at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital and was stabbed to death by Vass in the hospital car park in July 2010 while he was on bail accused of raping her.

Earlier this year, the Government moved to amend the law on bail to allow prosecutors to challenge judges' bail decisions in the High Court.

The amendment to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill was dubbed "Jane's Law".

Mr and Mrs Clough were also outraged that the rape allegations against former bouncer Vass were allowed to lie on file by the trial judge.

Mrs Clough said she and her husband would continue fighting on other issues such as holding judges accountable for the decisions they made and getting domestic abuse risk assessments to be read in open court so judges and magistrates can make more informed decisions regarding offenders.

She said: "Judges are so protected. They hold us accountable for the decisions we make in life but they are not accountable themselves. It should be open and transparent."

Mrs Clough said her MBE and the change in the law provided a "legacy" for Jane.

She added: "Jane did not get the justice that she deserved. We knew her life was worth something and worth fighting for and she would have wanted us to carry on fighting."